The Source Computing Blog

On January 20, 2009, someone will take the podium on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, place their left hand on the Bible, raise their right hand, and swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of our nation as its next president. However, the Constitution is so seldom upheld or defended now that the oath of office seems a hollow formality.

For too many years, Christians seeking to vote for the presidency according to scriptural principles have been consigned to opt for a lesser evil in lieu of a candidate who would combine a reverence for God’s gift of life with sensible policies designed to manage the country well.

In 2008, however, believers have a window of opportunity to put their support behind a man whose ideas are as tried and true as his commitment to them. Dr. Ron Paul, an obstetrician and 10-term Republican congressman from southeast Texas, has been standing firm on the principles of life, liberty, and limited government throughout his career. Paul has been the surprise of this election cycle, setting fundraising records and finishing ahead of such better known candidates as former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani and even AZ Senator John McCain in several of the early primaries and caucuses. Even conservative columnist Cal Thomas said on his website on January 17 that “the only [candidate] behaving like a real Republican is Ron Paul.”

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Paul’s campaign is the fact that he is not backed by corporate financing or any of the “powers that be” in the national media. Nearly all of his success is attributed to grassroots volunteers who have embraced his message of freedom and carried the torch with fervor.

But why should a Christian vote for Paul? What makes him the best choice to lead our country? I’d like to offer six reasons that he stands out from the field.

1) Paul’s commitment to limiting the size and scope of the federal government would help preserve our freedom to worship and live out our faith in this country. Some believers have criticized him because he would not use federal power to promote some causes we stand for. Paul wisely understands, however, that giving the government powers to favor a cause inevitably backfires when someone who holds different views takes office and uses the power you created against you. He also supports the constitutional position that all matters of personal morality are under the jurisdiction of the states.

2) Paul is a fierce opponent of abortion. As a medical doctor who has delivered over 4,000 babies during his career, he has tremendous respect for human life and has said that he never encountered a situation in which abortion would be a medical necessity. Whereas many politicians claim to be pro-life, Paul has taken direct action in Congress to stop the murder of America’s children. He authored House Resolution 1094 (the “Sanctity of Life Act”), which would legally define that life begins at conception, and House Resolution 300 (the “We the People Act”), which is designed to prevent federal courts from striking down state laws relating to abortion, marriage, or religious expression. Paul has said that he would do all in his power to overturn the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade ruling that prevents states from enacting laws to protect their most vulnerable citizens. Because Paul’s pro-life positions are so much more than just rhetoric, he has been endorsed by Norma McCorvey (the plaintiff in Roe v. Wade who later became a Christian and pro-life activist).

3) Paul’s mix of free market ideals and sound fiscal policies represent the best hope for the recovery of America’s economy. His plans to eliminate the income tax, allow individuals to opt out of social security, and eliminate wasteful government programs sound unconventional, but they are precisely the radical surgery needed to stop America’s decline. He would also curtail the power of the Federal Reserve to inflate our currency, instead allowing the market to determine the dollar’s value and the ability of businesses and individuals to borrow money.

This combination of plans will ultimately restore confidence in our country and enable hard-working Americans to save more of their money and increase their level of giving to churches and charitable organizations. Imagine the impact upon the world if Christians could take what they currently pay in federal income tax (and thus practically live without) and give it instead to those who need it most! Additionally, returning the dollar to its former status as a stable, valuable currency is vital to our overseas missionaries, who have seen their support dwindle even as total dollar amounts remain constant.

4) The traditional Republican platform of personal liberty finds its truest expression this year in Paul’s campaign. He has repeatedly stated his support of restoring and expanding individuals’ rights to pursue home education and holistic healthcare, and he is a stalwart supporter of our 2nd amendment right to protect our lives and property. Additionally, Paul would tackle the problem of illegal immigration by enforcing existing laws and taking away incentives (such as government services) that lie at the root of the problem. He recognizes that true freedom involves respect for the rule of law.

5) Perhaps the primary sticking point for traditional voters with Paul’s policies are his adamant positions on national sovereignty and non-interventionist foreign policy. What at first glance seems like a liberal anti-war platform is, at its heart, true conservatism. Paul believes that our national security would be much better served by keeping our troops here and ready to defend our country than by having them spread throughout the world. As president, he will endeavor to live up to George Washington’s call to practice friendship and commerce with all nations and alliances with none. One practical outcome of such a plan would be an increased respect for America and her people throughout the world. That can only be beneficial to those among us who answer Christ’s call to carry the gospel to the nations, both by liberating God’s truth from its political baggage and by opening doors of fellowship with other cultures.

6) Finally, Paul is a man of tremendous personal integrity and statesmanship who stands in stark contrast to the colorful personal lives and compromised political legacies of the other candidates. He has been married to his wife Carol for over 50 years, has 5 children and 17 grandchildren. He maintained his medical practice, even during much of his congressional career, for the benefit of those he served; he would often treat patients for free rather than accept government funds for his work. In congress, he has exemplified honor, never voting for a tax increase, an unbalanced budget, or for any bill not expressly authorized by the constitution. He has never taken a taxpayer-funded junket, nor does he participate in the Congressional pension program.

Up to this point, many believers have either not heard about Paul (due in part to the very limited coverage given his campaign by the media) or have written him off as a fringe candidate who could never win, but the race for the Republican nomination is far from over. Paul’s current position in the campaign is quite similar to the one in which another pro-life, pro-freedom candidate found himself 28 years ago—as late as March 1980, pundits had declared that Ronald Reagan was too “extreme” and could never unite enough voters to win the nomination, let alone the presidency. Reagan was able to reach out to Christians and build a coalition that propelled him to victory.

If Paul is to be elected, he has to win the Republican nomination, and if he is to win the nomination, Christians will have to rally behind him. While he has been far less vocal about his faith than other candidates due to his reluctance to use it to bargain for votes, his policy positions are well-founded on his beliefs. It is time for believers to vote for a man who will go to the white house and do what others only talk about. That cannot happen if we allow the popular conception of “Christian politics” to decide for us instead.

At the end of the day, Paul truly stands for his campaign slogan: “Hope for America”. Even if he is not elected, he has already succeeded at reminding us that such hope is not found in more government intervention, but in citizens intervening to protect our freedoms from an unrestrained government. He has forced the Republican Party to wake up and realize that we are just as addicted to handouts and regulation as the Democrats. His ideas, painted as radical by his opponents, are simply a sincere return to the foundational principles of the party. He has presented us the opportunity to partake in our nation’s leadership as the founders intended and recast the cultural debate from a contest between “right” and “left” to one between constitutional freedom and statist tyranny. It’s an opportunity we can’t afford to pass up.

Find out more about the man and his message at www.ronpaul2008.com

Filed under: Ron Paul, Uncategorized